Dolly Parton presented the 100 millionth Imagination Library book for the Library of Congress on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018.
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Pigeon Forge firefighters arrive during an event honoring first responders on one year anniversary of the Gatlinburg fires at Patriot Park in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee on Tuesday, November 7, 2017.(Photo: Calvin Mattheis, Knoxville News Sentinel)Buy Photo

A carbon dioxide system used for special effects at the Smoky Mountain Opry in Pigeon Forge leaked during the 8 p.m. show Saturday which caused the audience to be evacuated and sent three employees to the hospital.

Pigeon Forge Fire Department Chief Tony Watson said the three employees were found unconscious and two of the three have been released. One is still in critical condition at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Watson said the valve for the carbon dioxide was left open during the show for some reason. The main operator of the valve is the person in critical condition. The second individual turned off the valve and then succumbed to the colorless gas.

“We don’t know what caused the valve to be opened. I don’t know if we’ll ever know that,” Watson said.

The leak happened under the stage and no gas was emitted to the audience, according to a news release. Watson stressed that the crowd was never in any harm during the show and there is no concern about future shows.